Occupational Risk Assessment Methods and Their Information Support

Abstract

The digital transformation of the economy and society prompts the renewal of methods in occupational health as well. There are outlined fundamentals of the draft revision of the “Guidelines for the Assessment of Occupational Risk to Employee Health. Organizational and methodological foundations, principles and criteria for the assessment». R 2.2.1766-03. The draft contains methods of occupational risk (OR) assessment supplied with information materials and software for working on the Internet in real-time. Algorithms and models for calculating the probability of impairment of health according to data of the Special Assessment of Working Conditions (SAWC) as well as causation algorithms - work-relatedness assessment according to data of periodic medical examinations (PME) for the validity of risk assessment from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine are presented. There are set out methods for calculating the probability of the formation of occupational diseases (OD) of the main nosological forms from the exposure of noise, hand-arm and whole-body vibration, heat and cool microclimate, fibrogenic dusts, physical labor (local, regional and general loads), strenuous work, standing work with the likelihood of varicose lower veins limbs, multi-factor exposure and low-back pain. Risk assessments for the reproductive health of workers are also discussed. The models are based on the documents of the WHO, ILO, ISO, domestic and foreign literature data that meet the principles of evidence-based medicine. The problems of work-related diseases (WRD) - the concept of WHO (1987) -basics of etiology, qualitative and quantitative criteria for causation, models of consensus and evidence-based medicine, as well as projects for integrated work on the detection systems for WRD in the European Union countries are considered. Single-digit indices of working conditions and health problems, moral harm caused to an employee suffering from OD or WRD. Hygienic recommendations to employers on OR management, prevention priorities, the role of personal protection equipment, the basics of corporate health promotion programs, and ethical and economic aspects are described. The calculation methods are provided by the software of the electronic online reference book “Occupational Risk” (URL: http://medtrud.com/) in order to ensure evidence-based decisions of hygienists. In conclusion, a turning point in occupational health is noted: a decrease in the detection of traditional ODs without compensation by the number of OD and WRD from new technologies, materials and risk factors; this problem requires urgent action.

Peculiarities in assessing occupational health risks for workers who are in contact with aerosols containing fine-dispersed dust particles

“…Внедрение новых методов исследования факторов производственной среды приводит к изменению представлений о качестве условий труда и необходимости использования для их оценки методологии оценки риска здоровью [1][2][3]. В настоящее время выделен физико-химический фактор загрязнения воздуха рабочей зоны -аэрозоли мелкодисперсных пылевых частиц (РМ 10 и РМ 2.5 ).…”

“…Химический состав (измерение массовой доли соединений металлов) пылевых частиц анализировали атомно-абсорбционным методом. Результаты оценены в соответствии с ГН 2.2.5.3532-18 1 , а расчеты пылевой нагрузкив соответствии с ГОСТ Р 54578-2011 2 .…”

Peculiarities in assessing occupational health risks for workers who are in contact with aerosols containing fine-dispersed dust particles

“…New research techniques aimed at examining occupational factors are being implemented into practice; it leads to changes in concepts regarding working conditions quality and nowadays health risk assessment methodology is required to assess them [1][2][3]. At present great attention is paid to such physical and chemical factors that pollute working area air as fine-dispersed dust aerosols (РМ 10 and РМ 2.5 ).…”

“…Results were assessed in accordance with HS 2.2.5.3532-18 1 . Dust burden was calculated according to GOST R 54578-2011 2 .…”

Personalized medicine as a basis for occupational diseases prevention

“…In this regard, currently, priority is given to the development of a personalized approach in occupational medicine in order to early detection, diagnostics, and prevention of the transition of a pathological process to a chronic form using the latest achievements of molecular biology, genetics, and information technology. The search for modern and affordable means of occupational and production-related pathology prevention, especially in the context of reforming the health care system in Ukraine gains ground [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”